Melanoma of the skin. Forecasts

Melanoma is a skin cancer that develops as a result of oncological lesions of the cells responsible for pigmentation of the skin. In most cases, melanoma develops from moles — small areas of skin containing a high concentration of skin pigment. Less often, the disease occurs on "clean" skin and is not pigmented.

Unfortunately, the answers to the question of how many people live with melanoma of the skin often turn out to be disappointing. This is due to the fact that successful control of the disease is possible only in its early stages, whereas it is in these stages that melanoma is most difficult to diagnose. However, a favorable prognosis is possible if timely measures are taken.

Types of skin melanoma

The prognosis of melanoma is largely determined by its type. And the type is determined depending on how the melanoma of the skin looks. According to external signs, there are two types of melanoma:

flat melanoma. The neoplasm has the appearance of a simple pigment spot, which is not accompanied by the appearance of polypoid formations. According to a number of signs, flat melanomas are divided into three forms:
superficially spreading melanoma has the form of an asymmetric spot of uneven color, growing horizontally;
Lentigo melanoma is a form characteristic of the elderly that proceeds rather slowly, and a spot forms on the face or neck. Among all forms of melanoma, this one is accompanied by the most favorable prognosis.;
nodular melanoma. The main sign is a polypoid subcutaneous formation, most often pigmented.
External signs determine how fast the melanoma of the skin grows. While flat melanomas can become serious within a few years, the nodular form is extremely aggressive and develops in a matter of months, and sometimes weeks.

Diagnostics

 Regardless of the specific form of skin melanoma, the prognosis will improve significantly due to timely and accurate diagnosis of the disease. It includes a set of methods:

• physical examination of the patient, during which an oncologist records the external symptoms of melanoma;
• dermatoscopy is a detailed examination of a neoplasm using a high–tech digital device, a dermatoscope; it is a type of instrumental diagnosis that allows you to assess the external condition of the neoplasm most accurately.;
• laboratory blood test that detects the presence of cancer markers in it;
• A biopsy is a surgical sampling of a small fragment of a neoplasm, which is then subjected to microscopic examination in the laboratory.

Treatment

Melanoma, diagnosed at a late stage, is almost impossible to treat, and if possible, prolong the patient's life or improve its quality is the only thing that can be done.

The prognosis for early forms of the disease is much more favorable. Effective treatment is possible here. It is possible not only to remove the neoplasm, but also to prevent metastasis and recurrence of the disease.

Melanoma can be effectively treated surgically when the affected skin and adjacent areas are excised. Radiation therapy courses are prescribed in inoperable cases, and additional chemotherapy helps to slow down the development of melanoma, which will make the main procedures more effective.